stock --(leigh)

old forum · hod rodder Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 15499

i just got my hands on a really good condition stock 1981
TE
i dont have much money yet but im keen to start doing it up any advice on what i could do

old forum · hod rodder Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 15499

Fix the rust, if it's got any.

Get up under it and check the rubbers and bushes of the front suspension. Ensure your ball-joints are OK, especially the lower ball joints, cause if they let go, you ain't gonna have a car to drive, and maybe no legs too.

If you don't know when it had it's last service, tune and oil change - do it or get it done. Get a wheel alignment too, if you don't know when it last had one. Go to a reputable place that will tell you if your steering rack is stuffed, and will show you it's stuffed if they say it is. If it's stuffed, get another one - a recon one.

If you want it low, get some springs and shocks - the shocks will probably be stuffed anyway. Don't chop them and tell the HotGemini forum, cause you'll start another argument like the Great Chopped Spring War of 2000, and nobody wants a repeat of that. Lowered springs and shocks will make your car look killer. You might want to invest in some wheels as well. 13" stockies are OK for about 5 minutes, and 13" mags are OK, but I reckon they suit older Geminis better (TX-TC-TD) - personal opinion though. You might want some 14" Camira or BMW stockies - cheaper than mags, but for mags 15" is the go these days.

Then you can start on the interior or engine.....

But like you asked, these are just suggestions.

old forum · hod rodder Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 15499

hey dave the 15's you on about did you get youras of a civic?

old forum · hod rodder Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 15499

No, cause I don't have 15s. What I meant and didn't really say too accurately was that 15" mags are the smallest mags you'd really want to go for these days for street-cred value, although there are some pretty cool 13s and 14s around - especially little 13" Hurricanes and stuff - like I said, good for older Geminis though.

I have the 14" BMW steelies I mentioned with 195 and 205 tyres front and back.

I would like mags, but I'd prefer to perhaps get Commodore hubs one day and get some Walkinshaw or VS SS Ute Series III mags or something - Holden have put out some really cool alloys over the last few years or so. But that's a long way off - until then BMW stockies it is.

old forum · hod rodder Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 15499

yeah i still run the hotwires but it gives it a tough look